Two Sides of FI

Do you worry about running out of money in retirement? How do you draw down your assets without tanking your portfolio? Eric + Jason talk with FIRE bloggers Karsten Jeske and Fritz Gilbert about the bucket strategy. Is it a reasonable withdrawal plan or nothing more than a gimmick? They discuss alternative approaches, how to generate a retirement paycheck, and the role of cash. Whether you’re interested in FIRE or on a traditional retirement path, you can’t afford to miss this episode!

show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/bucketstrategy/

Your FIRE plan worked — so why is spending still so hard? In this episode, Jason (year 7) and Eric (year 2) share a candid early retirement update. Both portfolios have grown well above their FIRE numbers despite years of withdrawals, and a fee-only advisor delivered a surprising verdict: spend more. Learn why unwinding the accumulation mindset is harder than the math, how "life support" for adult kids reshapes the budget, and why unstructured time might be the truest form of wealth - and much more.

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/spendmore

Retiring at 47 is early by any definition. In this 2SFI Rewind episode, Jason reflects on his first year in early retirement. Not everything went smoothly as you might expect. Learn what's changed, what's been better, what's worse, and - importantly - has it lived up to his expectations? If you're excited to reach this milestone but still harbor some reservations about crossing into "retirement", Jason offers a grounded, thoughtful perspective on what to expect and how to prepare for such a life-altering transition. 

Read more about his journey on his blog, starting with the post that originally accompanied this episode: https://www.thenextphaseisnow.com/p/yearone

Is early retirement everything you imagined or does the reality take years to settle into? In this honest check-in, Jason (year 2) and Eric (year 7) compare notes on what post-FIRE life actually feels like from two very different vantage points. They cover decision fatigue, the challenge of replacing work's structure, and why the emotional side of retirement rarely gets the attention it deserves.

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/year2/

Is slow travel in retirement all that we hoped or is the dream far better than the reality? In this episode, Jason talks with Eric about his recent experiences during a month-long US road trip. Learn how the trip ended up way over budget, compare how Eric+Jason manage expenses, and whether they would do it again - and much more.

Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/slowtravel